Medieval Girl Names
From the fall of Rome to the age of Columbus, girls across Europe were named after saints, queens and grandmothers, and the same few dozen names filled parish rolls, tax lists and court records for centuries. Below are more than 100 medieval girl names that women genuinely carried in that era, grouped by where and how they were used, each with its real meaning and origin.
Many of these names have quietly come back (Matilda, Beatrice, Maud, Isolde), while others such as Petronilla or Gunnhild still feel wonderfully rare. For the boys’ side see our medieval boy names, browse the full medieval names collection, or pair a first name with one of our medieval last names. Writers building a whole world may also like our queen names.
Common medieval girl names in England
These names dominate English records such as the 1379–81 poll tax returns. They were so widespread that nicknames (Tibby, Magge, Annot) were needed to tell women apart.
| Name | Meaning | Origin |
|---|---|---|
| Alice | Noble, from Germanic Adalheidis | Norman French |
| Agnes | Pure, holy (Greek hagnē) | Greek via Latin |
| Joan | God is gracious | Hebrew via French |
| Margaret | Pearl | Greek |
| Matilda | Mighty in battle | Germanic |
| Isabel | Pledged to God (form of Elizabeth) | Hebrew via Occitan |
| Emma | Whole, universal | Germanic |
| Cecily | Blind (from Roman family name Caecilius) | Latin |
| Mabel | Lovable (from Amabel) | Latin via Norman French |
| Maud | Mighty in battle (form of Matilda) | Germanic via Norman French |
| Edith | Rich or blessed in war | Old English |
| Christina | Follower of Christ | Latin |
| Katherine | Pure (popular association); origin disputed | Greek |
| Juliana | Youthful, from the Roman family Julius | Latin |
| Beatrice | She who brings happiness | Latin |
| Elizabeth | God is my oath | Hebrew |
| Avice | Possibly “refuge in war” | Germanic via Norman French |
| Sybil | Prophetess | Greek |
| Rose | Rose flower; or Germanic “fame” | Latin / Germanic |
| Lucy | Light | Latin |
Names of medieval queens and noblewomen
Royal and aristocratic names that turned up in chronicles and charters. Several are tied to famous women, from Eleanor of Aquitaine to Blanche of Castile; see our queen names for more royal choices.
| Name | Meaning | Famous bearer |
|---|---|---|
| Eleanor | Possibly from Occitan “Alia Aenor” (the other Aenor) | Eleanor of Aquitaine (1122–1204) |
| Adela | Noble | Adela of Normandy, daughter of William the Conqueror |
| Blanche | White, fair | Blanche of Castile, queen of France |
| Berengaria | Bear spear | Berengaria of Navarre, wife of Richard I |
| Philippa | Lover of horses | Philippa of Hainault, queen of Edward III |
| Constance | Steadfast | Constance of Brittany |
| Isabeau | French form of Isabel | Isabeau of Bavaria, queen of France |
| Marguerite | Pearl | Marguerite of Provence |
| Ermengarde | Whole, universal + enclosure | Ermengarde of Anjou |
| Adelaide | Noble kind | Empress Adelaide of Italy |
| Theodora | Gift of God | Empress Theodora of Byzantium |
| Richenza | Powerful | Richenza of Northeim, Holy Roman Empress |
| Yolande | Possibly from Violante, “violet” | Yolande of Aragon |
| Jacquetta | Supplanter (feminine of Jacques) | Jacquetta of Luxembourg |
| Aethelflaed | Noble beauty | Æthelflæd, Lady of the Mercians |
| Emmeline | Work (Germanic amal) | Common among Norman gentry |
Saints’ names given to medieval girls
The Church calendar drove naming. Girls often took the name of the saint whose feast fell near their baptism, which kept these names in heavy use for centuries.
| Name | Meaning | Origin |
|---|---|---|
| Hilda | Battle | Old English (St Hilda of Whitby) |
| Frideswide | Peace + strong | Old English (patron of Oxford) |
| Etheldreda | Noble strength | Old English (St Æthelthryth of Ely) |
| Winifred | Blessed peace (Welsh Gwenfrewi) | Welsh |
| Brigid | Exalted one | Irish |
| Clare | Bright, clear | Latin (St Clare of Assisi) |
| Scholastica | Scholar | Latin |
| Radegund | Counsel + battle | Germanic (St Radegund) |
| Walburga | Ruler of the fortress | Germanic |
| Petronilla | From the Roman family Petronius | Latin |
| Margery | Pearl (medieval form of Margaret) | Greek via French |
| Osyth | God + battle | Old English |
| Mildred | Gentle strength | Old English |
| Ursula | Little bear | Latin |
| Benedicta | Blessed | Latin |
| Genevieve | Possibly “kin + woman” | Gaulish/Germanic |
Romantic names from medieval legend and song
Arthurian romance and troubadour poetry spread these names through the courts of France and England. They suit a fantasy heroine or a modern baby with a storybook streak.
| Name | Meaning / source | Legend |
|---|---|---|
| Isolde | Possibly “fair one” (Welsh Esyllt) | Tristan and Isolde |
| Guinevere | White phantom or white wave (Welsh Gwenhwyfar) | Queen of King Arthur |
| Enid | Soul, life (Welsh) | Geraint and Enid |
| Elaine | Bright, shining (French form of Helen) | Elaine of Astolat |
| Laudine | Uncertain Old French | Yvain, the Knight of the Lion |
| Nimue | Uncertain; possibly linked to Mnemosyne | The Lady of the Lake |
| Morgan | Sea-born or bright sea | Morgan le Fay |
| Rosamund | Horse protection; later read as “rose of the world” | Fair Rosamund Clifford |
| Heloise | Healthy, whole | Héloïse and Abelard |
| Blanchefleur | White flower | Floire and Blanchefleur |
| Laurette | Laurel | Troubadour love songs |
| Lunete | Little moon | Yvain |
| Enide | French form of Enid | Chrétien de Troyes |
| Ysolde | Variant of Isolde | French romances |
Welsh, Irish and Scottish medieval girl names
Celtic names survived alongside the Norman fashions. Pronunciations are approximate; our Celtic girl names list has many more.
| Name | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Gwenllian | GWEN-hlee-an | Fair, white + flood |
| Angharad | an-HAR-ad | Much loved |
| Nest | NEST | Welsh form of Agnes |
| Tangwystl | tang-GWIST-el | Peace pledge |
| Gormlaith | GORM-la | Illustrious princess |
| Dervorgilla | der-vor-GIL-a | Daughter of Fergal (Irish Derbforgaill) |
| Mór | MORE | Great |
| Sadhbh | SIVE | Sweet, goodness |
| Órlaith | OR-la | Golden princess |
| Marjory | MAR-jor-ee | Scottish form of Margaret |
| Ailbhe | AL-va | Possibly “white” |
| Elspeth | ELS-peth | Scottish form of Elizabeth |
| Isobel | IZ-o-bel | Scottish form of Isabel |
| Euphemia | yoo-FEE-mee-a | Well-spoken |
Norse and Germanic medieval girl names
Names from Scandinavia, Iceland and the German lands, as recorded in the sagas and runestones. Explore more in our female Viking names.
| Name | Meaning | Origin |
|---|---|---|
| Astrid | Divinely beautiful | Old Norse |
| Gunnhild | Battle + battle | Old Norse |
| Ingrid | Beautiful (Ing’s beauty) | Old Norse |
| Sigrid | Victory + beautiful | Old Norse |
| Thora | Thor’s woman | Old Norse |
| Ragnhild | Counsel + battle | Old Norse |
| Gudrun | God’s secret lore | Old Norse |
| Hedwig | Battle + fight | Germanic |
| Kunigunde | Clan + battle | Germanic |
| Gisela | Pledge | Germanic |
| Irmgard | Whole enclosure | Germanic |
| Liutgard | People + enclosure | Germanic |
| Hildegard | Battle + enclosure | Germanic (Hildegard of Bingen) |
| Brunhild | Armor + battle | Germanic |
Rare medieval girl names ready for a revival
Real names from medieval records that almost nobody uses today. Each is pronounceable and would stand out on a birth certificate or in a novel. For more hidden gems, see our rare girl names.
| Name | Meaning | Origin |
|---|---|---|
| Amabel | Lovable | Latin |
| Alianor | Medieval spelling of Eleanor | Occitan |
| Isolda | Latinized Isolde | Welsh via Latin |
| Letitia | Joy, gladness | Latin |
| Melisende | Possibly strong + work | Germanic (queen of Jerusalem) |
| Hawise | Battle + wide (Germanic Hadewidis) | Germanic via Norman French |
| Aldith | Old + battle | Old English |
| Goda | Good or god | Old English |
| Idonea | Suitable, fit | Latin |
| Joyce | Lord (Breton Iudocus) | Breton via Norman French |
| Clemence | Merciful | Latin |
| Dionisia | Of Dionysus | Greek |
| Sabina | Sabine woman | Latin |
| Wymarc | Worthy + boundary | Breton |
| Loveday | Day of reconciliation | Middle English |
| Eglantine | Sweetbriar rose | Old French |
How to choose a medieval girl name
- Decide how authentic you need it to be. For historical fiction, pick names from the right century and region: Aethelflaed fits 10th-century Mercia, Philippa fits 14th-century England.
- Look at the nickname culture. Medieval women were often called by pet forms: Tibby (Isabel), Magge (Margaret), Annot (Agnes), Malle (Mary). They make charming modern nicknames too.
- Check the spelling for modern life. Old forms like Alianor or Ysolde are lovely but may need spelling out. Eleanor and Isolde are easier everyday choices.
- Pair with the right surname. Medieval full names often combined a first name with a trade or place name, such as Alice Webster or Joan atte Wode. Our medieval last names can help.
- Mind the meaning. Many Germanic names mean “battle” twice over (Gunnhild, Hedwig), which suits a fierce character but might not be the vibe you want for a baby.
Frequently asked questions
What was the most popular girl name in medieval England?
In late medieval English records, Joan, Alice, Agnes, Margaret and Isabel are among the most frequent. In some 14th-century tax lists a handful of names covered more than half of all women.
What are pretty medieval girl names?
Isolde, Rosamund, Eleanor, Beatrice, Juliana, Clemence, Amabel and Eglantine are often chosen for their soft, romantic sound.
Are medieval names still used today?
Yes. Matilda, Eleanor, Alice, Beatrice, Maud and Agnes have all returned to birth charts in the US and UK in recent years.
What did medieval peasant women call their daughters?
Mostly the same saints’ names as nobles: Joan, Alice, Agnes, Emma, Cecily and Margery, usually used in pet forms like Annot, Magge or Emmot.
Did medieval women have last names?
Hereditary surnames spread in England from the 12th to 14th centuries. Before that, women were identified by father, husband, place or occupation, for example Alice daughter of Robert.